Replacing a simple fort in wood - known at the time as Castellum Lusdi - as was customary in the Middle Ages, the Counts of Anjou built a stone keep ('la Motte') at their borders in the tenth century (in the times of Fulk Nerra). A legend narrates that this was when the River Loire was canalized and its course was deviated several kilometres to bring it closer to the castle, while the old river bed became a brook.

Another legend of the same period refers to the fact that in the Xth century a demon inhabited the castle. In the guise of a servant he attempted to kill the owner. It was necessary to call in a bishop, Breviliguet, who used exorcisms to get rid of Satan's emissary. Remembrance of this event is to be found in the name of the westernmost tower of the castle, which has been known since then as the "Devil's tower".

The present castle is built on the walls of a fortress of the thirteenth century: a square outer wall flanked by six towers, surrounded by deep, wide moats, with a cutwater structure in front, over the river Loir. All that is left today of these structures is a subterranean vaulted room.

During the Hundred Years' War this castle was besieged several times; in 1370 the English lifted the siege.

This defensive outpost on the Loire was acquired by the Vendôme family in 1378, but they abandoned it in the face of the relentless pursuit of the English troops under the Count of Warwick. In 1425 Warwick captured the fortress. In 1427 the stronghold was reconquered by Ambroise de Loré, Beaumanoir and Gilles de Rais (also known as 'Bluebeard'). Despite the fact that he was a Marshal of France, the latter was unable to escape the gallows after having been condemned for satanic rites during which he supposedly had hundreds of children killed.

In 1457 Jean de Daillon, as Chamberlain in the service of the dauphin, Louis XI, bought Le Lude in a sorry state. He was a diplomat appreciated by Louis XI who nicknamed him "Skilful Jean", he restored the castle.

The new owner from 1477 on, Jean II Daillon, sided with the faction that opposed the French dauphin. After Louis XI became king he pursued Jean for a long time and forced him to hide for seven years in a cave. Reconciled with the king, Daillon obtained important offices in court and was able to turn his attentions to transforming the castle into a building with three arms around a central court of honor.

His son Jacques made his name in Italy and on the Pyrenées defending Fontarabie (1522-1523). From 1520 to 1530 Jacques de Daillon and his wife directed rebuilding of the south facade in the style of the early Renaissance: towers and facades are punctuated by the vertical sections of the high windows and superposed pillars, and the horizontal sections of the bands and mouldings marking the levels. Attracted by the fashion in terracotta medallions launched at the castle of Madrid in the Bois de Boulogne for Francis I, the Daillons used stone medallions which decorate the facade and give it its character. Jacques died in 1533 from the wounds he received at Pavia.

His son Jean, Count of le Lude, had the interiors fitted out. Francois succeeded him, serving Henry IV and Louis XIII whom he received on his land. On his death in 1619 his son Timoléon retired there, perfecting the garden and castle. This period dates the "second Renaissance" inner courtyard. In honour of Henry, last of that name, Louis XIV raised Le Lude to a peerage duchy. This great personality, with much wit, lived at the Court, fulfilling important duties.
Inside there was space for numerous reception halls and private rooms, while various antique furnishings and a large library are now in the other wings. (At right: The stables house a nice collection of old carriages).

In 1751, Monsieur Joseph Duvelaer, trader of the Compagnie des Indes, bought the castle. His heiress, the Marquess de la Vieuville, begged Barré, who had built Montgeoffroy, to build, overlooking the Loire, the Louis XVI facade, an elegant balance of three pavilions; the middle one, slightly projecting, has an emblazoned pediment, the storeys are decorated with niches or medallions. Barré was responsible for the Renaissance facade over the courtyard, closed off, on the town side, by a Louis XVI portico.

The Marquess, supported by the inhabitants of Le Lude, saved the castle from the revolutionaries and bequeathed it, through her daughter, to the de Talhouët family of which the present owner, the Countess de Nicolay descended. Bearing in mind the restoration works of the nineteenth century, Le Lude successfully combines some of the main French styles of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This is in addition to the discovery of a furnished and decorated residence whose historical and culturalheritage is maintained by the owners. | close window |